Night of the Scorpion is a poem by Nissim Ezekiel that vividly recounts the night the poet's mother was stung by a scorpion. The poem begins with the memory of a rainy night when the scorpion, driven by the continuous rainfall, crawls under a sack of.......
Night of the scorpion - My English Folder Coursebook - Class 8 - English
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Back Exercises - Night of the scorpion | My English Folder Coursebook | Literature | English | Class 8
Look at these lines from a poem by William Wordsworth. Justify them as a dramatic monologue.
Five years have past: five summers, with the length
Of five long winters! And again I hear
These waters, rolling from their mountain-springs
With a soft inland murmur. Once again
Do I behold these steep and lofty cliffs,
That on a wild secluded scene impress
Thoughts of more deep seclusion; and connect
The landscape with the quiet of the sky.
- Singular Speaker: The lines are spoken by a single speaker, expressing their personal thoughts, experiences, and observations. The speaker is addressing the reader or an implied listener, sharing their reflections on the passage of time and the return to a familiar landscape.
- Intimate Tone: The language and tone used in the lines create an intimate and personal atmosphere. The speaker reflects on the passage of time, expressing their emotions and memories associated with the landscape. The use of the pronoun "I" emphasizes the individual perspective and gives a sense of direct address to the reader or listener.
- Reflective Nature: The lines exhibit a reflective nature, where the speaker looks back on the past and describes their present experience. The speaker mentions the passing of five years and vividly describes the return to a familiar natural setting, evoking a sense of nostalgia and introspection.
- Internal Dialogue: The lines convey the inner thoughts and feelings of the speaker, creating a sense of psychological depth. The speaker contemplates their connection to the landscape and its ability to evoke a sense of seclusion and tranquility. The mention of the "quiet of the sky" suggests a deeper contemplation of the speaker's inner world.
Write a short dramatic monologue on a visit to the zoo you made as a child. Remember to keep all the elements mentioned above in place.
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Sign up nowBack Questions - Night of the scorpion | My English Folder Coursebook | Literature | English | Class 8
Say whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F).
- A hot summer had driven the scorpion to hide inside the house.
- The peasants came like swarms of flies and chanted God’s name.
- The peasants prayed that mother’s sins from her previous birth be burned away that night.
- Mother was laying unconscious on a mat.
- After 20 hours, the scorpion’s poison lost its sting.
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
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The peasants came like swarms of flies and buzzed the name of God a hundred times to paralyse the Evil one.
- a. Why did the peasants come in such large numbers?
- b. Who is the evil one here?
- c. Did the chanting help in healing mother?
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Sign up nowMay he sit still, they said May the sins of your previous birth be burned away tonight, they said. May you suffering decrease
- a. What does the repeated use of the word ‘may’ in these lines indicate to you?
- b. Who did the peasants want to sit still?
- c. What did the peasants fear would happen if the scorpion moved?
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Sign up nowThank God the scorpion picked on me And spared my children.
- a. Who is the ‘me’ here?
- b. What do these lines tell you about the speaker?
- c. How do you think the children must have felt about the speaker?
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Sign up nowHow do you know that the poet remembers the night very clearly? Provide examples to support your answer.
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Sign up nowDo you think the poet’s mother was popular and liked by many people?
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Sign up nowWhat impression do you get of the village and its people based on the references made in the poem?
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Sign up nowDo you think the poet, who is the mute witness to all this, is angry, scared or sorrowful?
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Sign up nowDo you remember any incident in your life that is striking enough for you to remember even now? What are the aspects of that Incident that make it so memorable?
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Sign up nowThe poem makes a brief comparison between scientific medicine and traditional beliefs. Explain your views on the same.
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Sign up nowLook at these lines from a poem by William Wordsworth. Justify them as a dramatic monologue.
Five years have past; five summers, with the length
Of five long winters! and again I hear
These waters, rolling from their mountain-springs
With a soft inland murmur.—Once again
Do I behold these steep and lofty cliffs,
That on a wild secluded scene impress
Thoughts of more deep seclusion; and connect
The landscape with the quiet of the sky.
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Join English Chatterbox to access detailed and curated answers, and score higher than you ever have in your exams.
Sign up nowWrite a short dramatic monologue on a visit to the zoo you made as a child. Remember to keep all the elements mentioned above in place.
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Sign up nowNight of the scorpion Quiz - Night of the scorpion | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
Vocabulary - Flashcards - Night of the scorpion | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
About the Author - Night of the scorpion | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
Nissim Ezekiel was an Indian poet, playwright, critic, and professor known for his contribution to Indian poetry and literature in English. Born in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1924, he belonged to a Jewish family and began writing poetry during his college years. Heavily influenced by modernist poets like T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound, Ezekiel played a significant role in shaping the modern Indian poetry movement.
Ezekiel's poetry is characterized by its formal structure, wit, satirical tone, and a keen observation of the world around him. His poems often explore themes of identity, love, family, and the paradox of modern life in India. He also experimented with various forms and styles, including sonnets, free verse, and the use of Indian English, which incorporated elements of the local dialects into his work.
Apart from poetry, Nissim Ezekiel also wrote plays, short stories, and critical essays, and he was a respected professor of English literature. He received numerous awards for his work, including the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors. He passed away in 2004, leaving behind a rich literary legacy that continues to inspire and influence contemporary Indian writers.
Summary - Night of the scorpion | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
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Themes - Night of the scorpion | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
- Superstition and Tradition: The poem highlights the deep-rooted superstitions and traditional beliefs of villagers who think that chanting God's name repeatedly can cure the mother. They believe that her suffering is because of her previous lives' sins and her present pain will purify her of any worldly desires. They perform various rituals and prayers in a group to lessen the effect of the poison. This theme shows how even in the time of adversity, people resort to age-old superstitions and customs.
- Rationalism vs. Belief: The poem also presents a contrast between rationalism and belief. The father, a skeptic and rationalist, tries to cure his wife with various scientific methods like applying powders, mixtures, herbs, and even burning the bitten toe with paraffin. On the other hand, the villagers, being believers, resort to their rituals and customs to ...
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Unlock now 🔓Poetic Devices - Night of the scorpion | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
- Imagery: The poem uses vivid images to present the scenes, such as "a sack of rice," "giant scorpion shadows," and "the flame feeding on my mother."
- Simile: The peasants' arrival is compared to swarms of flies when the poet writes, "The peasants came like swarms of flies."
- Repetition: The phrase "they said" is repeated several times in the poem, ...
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Unlock now 🔓Symbols - Night of the scorpion | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
The poem uses various symbols:
1. Scorpion: The scorpion in the poem symbolizes danger and suffering. It can also be seen as a symbol of evil or malicious intent, given the villagers' reactions.
2. Rain: While rain often symbolizes purification....
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Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - Night of the scorpion | My English Folder Coursebook | Class 8 Literature | English
- Diabolic: devilish, evil
- Paralyse: to make unable to move or act
- Lanterns: portable light sources, often using a candle inside a protective case
- Mud-baked: made from sun-dried, hard earth
- Clicked their tongues: making a clicking noise with one's tongue, often to indicate disapproval or disappointment
- Sins: wrongful acts, usually associated ...
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